Grapple



Oct. 18, 1932. N. P. E. ANDERSEN ET AL 1,882,704

' GRAPPLE Filed Sept. 10, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

1932- N. P. E. ANDERSEN ET AL 1,832,704

GRAPPLE Filed Sept- 10, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Ad @2641 M %,W, 411w, m5 numb MM ATTORNEYS O 1932- N. P. E. ANDERSEN ET AL 1,332,704

GRAPPLE Filed Sept. 10, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 18,1932

mL'srsann-EBIKnnnERsEN, or ELM GRQVE.1WISC0NSIN,ANDMAURIGE BBADLEX,

0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, 'ASSIGNORS HARNISGBIFE WAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION QF WISCONSIN GER GQRPOBAT-IQN, OF MIL- GBAPBLE Application mem e wm, 1931 Serial N seams.

This invention relates to an improvement in grapples which, althoughes'pecially designed and adapted for use inihandling crat' ed articles such as crated electrical mechanical refrigerators, is also designed for han dling various other diverse types of articles.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a noveltyp'e of grapple designed and adapted to securely and effectively grip and support the objectbei-ng handled'es pecially' where the object is crated whereby to insure safe and expeditious transfer of the articles from one place to another. In carryingout this purpose of the invention the rapple is designed to straddle the articles and grip -and hold the same from the outside as, for example, under external ledges or cleats of its crate or the like When the articles are crated.

Another object of the invention is to-p'ro vide a grapple of this character which may be readily lined up withgone or a plurality of de to be hand d n aut ati all brought into gripping engagement with the articles without the necessity of a ground crew, or of any operators in the region of h a ticle t g apple bema e ons l ut'ed,

that by appropriatelymoving the same 'vler:

tically and horizontally, automatic gripping engagement of e 'grappl 'v h th rt les is insured. In this eonnection,-itfis,to be nde t dt a th rapple i u d incor junction With-an overhead crane and is so organized and constituted as to be controlled in its action by the operator ofthe crane.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide for the release of the articles Whenthey are transferred to, the point of deposit.

The invention also provides for the ready adaptation of the grapple to the handling of articles of different s zes.v Furthermore, pro,- vision is made for eifective gTIPPIDg'BlTg-ELQBr ment of the grapple with the article IlQfWlllh,"

standing the provision of interfitting structure on portions of the articles. For eX-, ample, in handling crates the grapple is provided witha plurality of sets ,o'fgrippe'rs for each crate, the grippersbeing-designed to en.- gage beneath horizontal cleats ofn'the crates. In some instances, vertical cleats or the like may interfere with the action of the grippers but this does not impair I substantial, secure and safe gripping engagement as the IQIIlalIl:

i'ng sets of grippers have ample capacity to securely engage and grip the crate.

A further object of the present inventionis to provide a grapple having these advantages and capacities and Which is simple and durable in construction,-reliable and safe in operation, easily cont-rolled, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and economical crane has, as is Well known, a, motor driven bridge which moves along overhead tracks.

The motion of the bridge may be considered longitudinal in that it travels back and forth along an aisle or area of the building.

On'the bridge a transversely movable truck is supported and rides back and forth on a track extending transversely-on the bridge. Motor driven drums are provided on the truck and act to raise and lowerc rop'es or cable arrangements. on theropes or cables controlled by the drums the grapplee'mbodying the-present invention is mounted or suspended sothat the grapple may be raised and lowered from the drums, moved transversely with the truck andmoved longitudinally with the bridge. The grapple arrangement embodying the present invention consists generally of a pair of parallel side frame members which maybe interconnected for transverse adjustment relative to each other and which are supported by pulleys from the cables. The side frame members carry transversely alined and vertically depending grapple arms, and grapple arms of one side frame member may be longer than the grapple arms of the other side frame members. Each grapple arm is provided with a spring projected gripping or grap-,

longer arms of the grapple into engagement in respect of operating and maintenance the crates to a place of deposit. The crate is then operated to lower the grapple and its crates and deposit the crates in the selected place. The operator of the crane then sets into motion a releasing mechanism which functions to withdraw the-gripping fingers or elements from beneath the ledges and this, .of course, against the action. of their biasing springs. Prior to this releasing action the grapple has been lowered sufficiently to, disengage the gripping fingers from the ledge. lViththe gripping fingers retracted thecrane may be utilized to raise the grapple clear of the crates and leave them at the point to which they have been laced.

-The side frame members being interconnected for transverse adjustment provide for the adaptation of the grapple to various sizes of crates. a V

' Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangementand combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which: v V

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing a grappleembodying the present invention; V 1

Figure 2 is a view in transverse vertical section taken in the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1 with parts shown in elevation for the sake of simplicity in elevation; I Figure 3 is a view in longitudinal vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

'F-igure 4 is a fragmentarysectional view of one of the grapple arms, illustrating its gripping element inreleased position; and Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section showing one manner of adjustably interconnecting theside frame members.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the grapple embodyingthe present invention comprises a pair of side frame members designated at 1 and 2 and which may be constituted of channel irons. The sideframe members are interconnected with each other so as to constitute a frame for the grapple and preferably this interconnection is of such character as to provide for transverse adjustment of the frame members relative to each other; One mode of efiecting such an adj ustable interconnection is shown for the sake of illustration in the drawings and consists in theprovision of two pairs of slidably interconnected transverse frame members, the members of each pair being designated at 3 and 4, the member 3 of each pair being rigidly secured at one end to the side frame member 1 and terminating at its other end in spaced relation to the side frame member 2,

whereas the other transverse frame member a is rigidly secured at one end to the side -frame member -2 and terminates at its other end inspaced relation to the side frame mem-- her 1. The transverse frame members 3 and 4c of each pair are interconnected for relative sliding movement by box-like guides 5, there being two guides 5 for each pair of frame members ,3 and 4. Eachof theguides 5 is secured to and carried by a vertical hanger plate 6which is interposed between the members of each pair of transverse frame members andwhich'is in turn suspended by yokes 7 from pulleys 8. Pulleys 8 are hung in the bight portions of a cable arrangement C which depends from drum and guide pulleys of the truck of an overhead traveling crane designated diagrammatically at T and which has a motor drivendrum D controlling the paying out and hauling in of the cables'and thereby eflecting raising and lowering of the grapple.

Depending from the side frame members 1 and 2 are a plurality of vertically disposed grapple arms designated at 12 and 13, respectively. The upper ends of the grapple arms 12 and 13 are securely fastened to their side frame members 1 and 2, respectively, and the grapple arms 12 are transversely alined with the grapple arms 13. The grapple arms 12 and 13 are of similar construction and differ. only in that the grapple arms 13 are longer than or project downwardly beyond the grapple arms 12. Each of the grapple arms 12 and 13 has a built up lower end of tapered formation as indicated at 14 and above itslower'end is of channel form.

Within the channel portion of each grapple arm, a gripping finger or gripping element designated at 15 is provided and has a bearing 16 pivotally supported as by means of a pin 17 on the flanges of its arm. A spring 18 is associated with each gripping element to bias the same to projected position. Below its bearing portion 16 each gripping element is provided with a projection or tail-piece 19. The gripping elements of the arms 12 and 13 are transversely alined as illustrated in the drawings.

' In order to provide for the retraction of the gripping elements 15, that is, for the movement of these elements, to what may be termed their released or releasing position, a releasing strip 20 is slidably fitted in the channel portion of each grapple arm and is constrained to vertical sliding movement by a guide plate 21 extending between'and se- 29 by suitable reduction worm-'and'worm' Wheel '30.

to these. flanges and having guiding engagement, with the strip slidablethere with. Normally, the lower end of each strip 20 occupies the position "shown in Figure 2, in which position the spring :18 is effective to project the gripping linger since the tailpiece -19 may swing up against -ith'e body portion of the grappling arms. If, however, the strips -20 are depressed or moved downwardly their lotver ends coact With the projectiens 1-9 of the gripping fingers to swing the proje'o'tions and the gripping fingers-inn clock-wise direction as viewed in Figure 4 whereby to retract the gripping fingers, that is, *to move "them to released position. I V Suitable 1neans may be provided for actuatingthe releasing strips and in the present ins'tance' means is proposed whichacts to simultaneouslydepress or elevate the releasing strip. p

In the "construction shown for the sake of illustration the upper end of each releasing strip 20 is provided with a pin 22 WhlClIlS secured *to, extends transversely of and projectslaterallly beyond its strip. The pins 22 arebperatively fitted and inclined cainming slots 23- 'provided in vertical flanges of longitudinally shiftable angular bars 24. The angle bars "24 have their horizontal flanges constrained -'to sliding -1novement over the upper surfaces'of the tran-sverse frame members and 4 by means of guide'clips 2 1 shown in Figure 2. -1' "oritlnepurpose ofshifting the bars 24 back and forth and thereby cause the slots 23*to eoa'ct'fwith the pins 22 to raise and lower "the releasing strips 20, racks 25 are secured to portions of theangle bars 254: "and mesh with elongated :pinions '26 fiXCl at the outer end of a jack shaft 27 'supported for rotation in suitable bearing brackets 2'8-and driven from an electrlo motor gearing-such as a The support for' the motor '29, for the brackets 28 and "t-heihousing for the Worm gearing '30'isprovided by longitudinal channels '50 which are arranged inspaced-parallel relation and are secured :to and extend b'etweeirthe hanger plates 6; preferably the Ordinarily the transverse "adjustment of theframemembers 1 and 2 after having been set is not dist'urb'edfor a considerable time,

"for the "reason "that. 'usually the grapple handlesquite a number of crates or'the like of the 'sarmesize. However, whenja different size crate or otherarti'cle is to be handled an appropriate transverseadjustment is effected.

Suitable means is provided for effecting this transverse adjustment and in the present'em bodiment olf'the linnentionthismeansds shown for the sake of i-i-llustraition as consisting of a longitudinal extending shaft 31 supported tion, this .7 means :is shown .as consisting of ;a

hand Wheel '40 fixed to :a transverse shaft v ll having driving connection with :the shaft through worm gearing 142- Obviously, the shaft ll may be =motordriven :if desired. 5 It will beunderstood 'froma comparison of Figures 1 and2 thatthe grapple lends itself to a four-point suspension :from' the overhead crane. As illustrated :in Figure 51,1,the Wire WV leads fromthe motor29 to the icrane-so that the control of the motor may be :exercised in a well-known ananner by the opera tor of the crane.

The Worm gearing 42 is :contained ;in .a suitable housing 43 Which .is secured "to: and depends;from:transverse channels 44 appropriately secured, -as, for example, WGlClQdItO the supporting channels '50.

It will be understood? that When-Ithe frame members 1 vand2 are shifted or :adjusted transversely that the f bearing provided for the shaft 41 and the bearing brackets 28:}310- vided for "the shaft 27 slide 5 freely axially: or longitudinally of their shafts. The specific meansdisclosed for imparting the actuating 'force to-the releasing strips Land' the actuating'force to the shaft is selected merely for thesake ofillustration and it is to be understood that-in this and in otherrespects-various chan'ges in-the sizefform and arrangement of the parts niay be made Without. de-

adjustment. Asillustrated in'Figure 2,the

transverse frame members3 and 4 are slotted to-enable these frame members to move relative to the shaft 30 when the side frame mem bers 1 and'2 are =adju'sted'relative toeach other.

While one purpose of thetransverseadjustmentis' toadaptthe grapple for use with crates or articles of different Sizesit; is obvious that-themovement of the. grapple arms toward and away 'from'each other, especially where this movement is motorized, will be advantageous for other purposes. For example, where the grapple is engageable with a row of crates or articles'which are somewhat out of line a movement of this character' enhances the capacity of the grapple to cope with the somewhat staggered arrangement of the crates or articles.

The invention claimed is:

1. A grapple of the character described comprising a frame having spaced side members, a plurality of grapple arms carried by and depending from said side members, each of said grapple arms having an inwardly and upwardly directed gripping element, said arms being adapted to straddle the article to be handled and to position the gripping elements for engagement beneath the ledge-like structure on the outsideof the article, means for yieldably biasing the gripping elements to grippingpositionand a common release for said gripping elements.

2. A grapple adapted to be suspended from the cables of an overhead crane and comprising hanger plates having pulleys suspended from said cables,'a frame having side frame members and slidably int-erfitted transverse frame members, means coacting with the hanger plates and with said transverse frame members for supporting the frame from the cable arrangement, means for transversely adjusting said transverse frame members and securing the same in any transverse adjustment, and grapplingmeans carried by the side frame members and adapted to straddle the articles to be handled and to have gripping engagement therewith from the outside. 3. A grapple of the character described comprising a frame having side frame members, a plurality of grapple arms depending from each side frame member and adapted to straddle the articles to be handled, said grappling arm having gripping elements adapted to grip the articles to be handled from the outside, the grapple arms depending from one side member of the frame being longer than the grapple arms depending from the other side member and being cooperable with the articles to be handled to facilitate alinement of the grapple therewith.

4:. A grapple of the character described comprising a frame havingside frame members, transverse frame members, connected to each side frame member, means interconnecting the transverse frame members with relative sliding movement, a motor driven shaft carried by said means, cranks carried by said shaft, links actuated by said cranks and connected by said side member, and grappling means carried by said side frame members and adapted to straddle the articles to be handled and to have gripping engagement therewith from. the outside. 1

5. A grapple of comprising 'a plurality of grapple arms. means supporting said grapple arms to straddle the articles to behandled, a pivoted gripping finger mounted on each of said grappling arms, a'spring for urging said gripping finger to gripping position, and means for swinging the gripping finger to released position.

6. A grapple of the character described comprising a plurality of grapple arms carried by said frame and depending therefrom, means supporting said grapple arms to straddle the articles to be handled, a pivoted gripping finger mounted on each of said grappling arms, a spring for urging said gripping finger to gripping position, a slidable release strip. mounted on each grappling arm and cooperable with the gripping finger thereof to swing the gripping finger to released position when slid in one direction, and means for sliding the releasing strips.

7. A grapple of the character described comprising a plurality of grapple arms carried by said frame and depending therefrom, means supporting. said grapple arms to straddle the articles to be handled, a pivoted gripping finger mounted on each of said grappling arms, a springfor urging said gripping finger to gripping position, a siidable release strip mounted on each grappling arm and cooperable with the gripping finger there of to swing the gripping finger to released position when slid in one direction, means for sliding the releasing strips consisting of a pair of shiftable bars, a camming pin and slot connection between each of said strips and one of said bars, and means for shifting said bars.

p 8. A grapple of the character described in cluding spaced grappling arms having inwardly and upwardly directed grappling elements,.and means for shifting said elements from a grappling to a released position, one of said grappling arms being longer than the other to facilitate engagement of the grapple with the article to be handled.

' 9. A grapple adapted to be suspended from the cables of an overhead crane and comprising hanger plates having pulleys suspended from said cables, a frame having side frame members and slioably interfitted transverse frame members, box-like guides carried by said hangers and through which said transverse frame members slide, means for transversely adj usting said transverse frame members and grappling means carried by said side frame members and adapted to. straddle the article to be handled and to have grappling engagement therewith from the outside. Y

In witness whereof, we hereto affix our signatures. a

NILS PETER ERIK ANDERSEN.

MAURICE 13. BRADLEY.

the character described v 

